Santa Barbara's station blocks two streets when the Coast Starlight stops

When the Coast Starlight rolls into Santa Barbara, the train effectively seizes control of the streets to the north and south while it sits idle. Because the platform is so long, it blocks both streets adjacent to the depot. This historic station remains a functional hub for Amtrak's Coast Starlight and Pacific Surfliner lines.

The Southern Pacific Railroad built the station in 1902. Architect Francis W. Wilson designed the structure in the Spanish Mission Revival style. The historic depot was renovated in 2000, a project that restored the ticket office and included upgrades to the plumbing, electrical, and heating and cooling systems. The station is located within walking distance of Santa Barbara Harbor, Stearns Wharf, and State Street.

For most of the first decade of the Amtrak era, the station was only served by the Coast Starlight, which ran southbound during the evening rush and northbound at lunchtime. In 1988, Amtrak and Caltrans extended the San Diegan, previously a Los Angeles-San Diego service, to Santa Barbara. That route was rebranded as the Pacific Surfliner in 2000 and now maintains a frequency of 10 trains per day.

Currently, the station processes 339,569 passengers in the 2025 fiscal year. It remains fully staffed with ticketing and checked baggage services. The station was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 2, 2006.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikimedia Commons